Fights in MS - what are they fighting about?

[Anonymous]

My DS has come home a number of times this year and mentioned another fight in school. He goes to a W MS. What the heck are these kids fighting about.

[Anonymous]

It's the impact of all the community violence right now. People are just quicker to using fists (or worse) for whatever reason. They are the regular middle school arguments. Fueled overnight and over the weekends by social media. Fighting over girls, trash talk, whatever. But it used to cool down more often. No longer.

I think Will Smith's smacking Chris Rock at the Oscar's is the perfect example of it -- someone you'd never think in a million years could act out physically -- and yet they do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's the impact of all the community violence right now. People are just quicker to using fists (or worse) for whatever reason. They are the regular middle school arguments. Fueled overnight and over the weekends by social media. Fighting over girls, trash talk, whatever. But it used to cool down more often. No longer.

I think Will Smith's smacking Chris Rock at the Oscar's is the perfect example of it -- someone you'd never think in a million years could act out physically -- and yet they do.

Will Smith is a douchebag. He was good during his Fresh Prince era, but after that, he got a big head, he's not really a good actor more of a goofy character.

[Anonymous]

Former middle school teacher here: They are fighting about anything, everything and most times nothing that would warrant a fight. Lack of communication skills and increase of technology use are a huge problem with adolescents due to lockdown. Most of those issues were around before lockdown but increased drastically because of lockdown. Kids don’t know how to talk to each other to solve an issue. They are quick to post something online but not solve a problem they may have with a friend. Also there is a big mob mentality as well. Putting on a show for everyone to video tape it or talk about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS has come home a number of times this year and mentioned another fight in school. He goes to a W MS. What the heck are these kids fighting about.

Whether the caf should serve Frenchs or Gray Poupon. The usual stuffs.

[Anonymous]

Same things middle schoolers were fighting about when I was middle schooler at a W middle school in the early 90s (before social media).
The list includes:
girls
boys
hormones
pride
other dumb shite
lack of a fully developed frontal cortex

[Anonymous]

There were fights when I went to middle school sometimes. Usually over something so stupid you wouldn’t think it’d escalate to violence. You get a bunch of kids in a circle chanting fight and the adrenaline starts goinf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's the impact of all the community violence right now. People are just quicker to using fists (or worse) for whatever reason. They are the regular middle school arguments. Fueled overnight and over the weekends by social media. Fighting over girls, trash talk, whatever. But it used to cool down more often. No longer.

I think Will Smith's smacking Chris Rock at the Oscar's is the perfect example of it -- someone you'd never think in a million years could act out physically -- and yet they do.

Will Smith is a douchebag. He was good during his Fresh Prince era, but after that, he got a big head, he's not really a good actor more of a goofy character.

He can be a jerk and still not put his hands on someone. There’s no self restraint any longer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Former middle school teacher here: They are fighting about anything, everything and most times nothing that would warrant a fight. Lack of communication skills and increase of technology use are a huge problem with adolescents due to lockdown. Most of those issues were around before lockdown but increased drastically because of lockdown. Kids don’t know how to talk to each other to solve an issue. They are quick to post something online but not solve a problem they may have with a friend. Also there is a big mob mentality as well. Putting on a show for everyone to video tape it or talk about it.

Current middle school teacher here--100% this. It's different from when we were kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Former middle school teacher here: They are fighting about anything, everything and most times nothing that would warrant a fight. Lack of communication skills and increase of technology use are a huge problem with adolescents due to lockdown. Most of those issues were around before lockdown but increased drastically because of lockdown. Kids don’t know how to talk to each other to solve an issue. They are quick to post something online but not solve a problem they may have with a friend. Also there is a big mob mentality as well. Putting on a show for everyone to video tape it or talk about it.

+1

Another MS teacher here. It’s almost always over what adults would consider “nothing”. But for the kids, at some point they lose their ability to self-regulate and some end up in a fight. Think toddler tantrum - same basic problem. Worst fight I ever had in my room was between two friends sitting next to each other. Kid A had been bugging kid B all day about something stupid and continued during my class. Kid B suddenly lost it and landed a solid fist to kid A’s nose. Kid A ran for his life around the room, blood streaming, with kid B in hot pursuit and raging angry. I managed to get between them and break it up. But wow, it was quite the scene. Did it sound horrific to other parents? I’m sure. Was it? Not at all. (And yes, afterwards I thought it was funny and kid A learned a lesson.)

[Anonymous]

DD is in 7th grade at Westland MS and has not reported any fights.

While I don't doubt that occasionally fights happen, just remind your child that sometimes rumor is more creative and dramatic than reality. You should have seen the rumors flying around the day BCC went into lockdown - DD was sitting in Spanish class and several of her classmates went batshit crazy claiming all sorts of things, when all they had to do was google it and check... which eventually a few did. DD thought they were all very drama-loving and attention-seeking.

[Anonymous]

Because whoever had the best story wins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS has come home a number of times this year and mentioned another fight in school. He goes to a W MS. What the heck are these kids fighting about.

Yes, Robert Frost has had some issues this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS has come home a number of times this year and mentioned another fight in school. He goes to a W MS. What the heck are these kids fighting about.

Are they white kids? Why dont school admin do simething tobthem? Is this a perfect chance to show they don’t give white and rich kids a break but always target minority students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS has come home a number of times this year and mentioned another fight in school. He goes to a W MS. What the heck are these kids fighting about.

Are they white kids? Why dont school admin do simething tobthem? Is this a perfect chance to show they don’t give white and rich kids a break but always target minority students?

If this is at one of the segregated schools, that lesson will be lost on them further cutting wealthy kids' breaks is SOP.